Connecter for spark plug terminals



Aug. 1934- o. E. SZEKELY 1,970,635

CONNECTER FOR SPARK PLUG TERMINALS Filed Dec. 1, 1930 Patented Aug. 21, 1934 w l -moses n GONNECTERFOR sPAnK-rLUGfTEmvnN s Otto E. Szekely, Holland, than]; Application December 1, 1 930 fi 5 Claims: (01. ts-269) v This invention relates to connecters of the type used with the terminals of spark plugs of the character employed in internal combustion engines and particularly, though not necessarily, to spark plugs for aircraft engines. The blast from the propeller of an aeroplane usually passes directly over the motor driving the propeller and as this blast is of appreciable force it is not uncommon that the ignition wires are disconnected thereby from the spark plugs ofthe engine. Even in engines wherein the ignition wires are covered and protected from the blast this displacement sometimes occurs, due to vibration, and obviously if one ignition wire is disconnected additionalvibration willresult, because of the inoperative cylinder, and this additional vibration may displace'other ignition wires. It has frequently been the custom, to obviate the foregoing condition, to wire, or otherwise fixedly secure, the connecters to the terminal of the spark plugs to prevent displacement and the disadvantage of this will be readily apparent, and sometimes negligent mechanics fail to take this precaution with the result that the connecters are displaced from the terminals of the spark plugs when the engine is in use. p

It is therefore the salient object of my invention to provide a novel connecter for the terminal of spark plugs which will be so constructed that a positive connection may be made with the plug in a manner which will eliminate the likelihood of I displacement and an ancillary objectis to provide a connecter which may be easily disconnected manually when so desired; A further object is to provide a connecteriwhich will not be weak'- ened even though it is repetitiously connected and disconnected and this resides in the provision of suflicient innateresilincy to overcome any likelihood of fatigue in the metal.

A selected embodiment of my invention is illus trat'ed'in the accompanying drawing and therein Fig. 1 is a top plan view of .myimproved connecter in installed position; p

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken substantially on Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 33 on Fig. 1; and

Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view of my improved ,connecter.

In the selected embodiment of my invention illustrated in the accompanying drawing 5 indicates the body of my novel connecter which is formed from a strip of sheet metal, suitably ,shaped, and having at one end thereof a bifurcation 6 terminating in a centrally extending slot 7, "disposed inthe stem portion 8, the bifurcation 6 being formed, as' by rounding, as indicated at 9, to embrace the reduced portion 10 on the terminal"- 11 of the spark plug generally indicated'by 12.1 The strip 5 includes an enlarged portion 13, outwardly of the stemportion 8. Dispo's'ed on one'fa'ce of the strip 5 is a resilient strip 14, one end of which is'secured-to the portion 13 by the rivet l5 'or other suitable securing device. Atthe end of the strip 14; opposite the end through which the rivet 15 is'passed,there is an enlarged portion 16 having an opening 1'7 therein, the forward end of which isfof substantially circular contourandthe rear'end of which is in the form of a slot 18. -Theopeningl7 is alined with the bifurcation 6 3 At theforward end' of the strip 14' there is a lip 19, the utility of which will be made apparent'presently. Extending from the strip 14 on opposite sides of the opening 18, in diametrical relation, are two'clampingsections 20, 20 which,

at a point outwardly 'of' the-strip 14, are rolled to provide rounded portions 21, 21 and tail portions 22, 22'eiiten'd fromjthese rounded portions over the lower face of "the strip 5, as best illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4. The tail portions 22, 22-and the rounded portions 21, 21 cooperate to yieldingly hold the sections 20, 20 in engagement with theupper surface of theportion of the strip 5 adjacent the bifurcation 6; The end of the strip 5, outwardly of the portion 13, is bent at right angles to the extent ofthe strip to provide a portion 24' in'which anopening 25 is provided through which the neck 26 of the conductor receiving socket 27 is extended: One' end of the socket'engages one'face of the portion 24 and the end of the neck 26 is flared outwardly, as indicated at 28,jto connect'the; socket to the portion 24 and the strip"5. A sleeve 29 of insulating material is disposed about the body portion of the socket 27 and extends beyond the-end thereof to conceal and protect the electric conductor connected in said socket-E as" -by soldering or iri any other ap proved manner. ,Q'rijthei terminal 11, outwardly of, the reduced portion 10, is a collar23;

Toinst'all my improved connecter, the end -of the section 5 adjacent the bifurcation 6 is disposed with the bifurcation in alinement with the reduced portion 10 and by applying pressure the sections of the strip 5 on each side of the bifurcation will spring outwardly, this being aided by the slot '7, and thus the periphery of the reduced portion 10 may be embraced by the arcuated portions 9. During the time the strip 5 is being forced on to the reduced portion 10 the enlarged portion 16 will be cammed upwardly, as illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. 2, until the opening 17 therein is alined with the collar 23 so that the collar 23 may be forced therethrough and a portion of the section 16, at the edge of the opening 17 adjacent the lip 19, will engage the reduced portion 10 below the collar 23 and this portion will cooperate with the rounded sections 9 to securely attach the connecter to the terminal 11. To insure retention of the member-5 about the reduced portion 10 the ends "ofthetailpportions 22, 22 are disposed to extend into said reduced portion, as illustrated in Fig. 3.' When it is desired to disconnect the connecter, pressure;

ing strip, means connecting corresponding ends of said body strip and clamping strip whereby said clamping strip is positioned on one face of is applied on the undersideof the lip 19 and by reason of the innate resiliency of'the'st'rip 14 this I strip may be sprung to the dotted line position; of Fig. 2 after which the strip 5 may be withdrawn from engagement with the reducedportion 10.

By reason of the fact that the reducedportion 10 will be embraced by the sections of the strip" 5 on the opposite sidesof the bifurcation, 6- and .to hold the strip -16 on the upper surfaceof the, strip 5, accidental displacement will be prevented,

for the connecter cannot be disconnected :save by applying pressure tothe lip 19 to springthe strip 16, as aboveset forth. I

'Whi1e I have illustrated and described a se-b lected embodiment of my invention, it is to beunderstood that this is capable ,of variation and modification and I therefore ,do not wish to be limited to the-precise details setforth but desire to avail myself of variations and-modifications within the purview of the following claims, I claim? 1.- In a connecter oftheclassdescribed a striphaving a terminal embracing bifurcation: extendv ing thereinto from one endthereof, a; clampingstrip'having one endrthereof securedto the end of said first-named strip opposite the bifurcation, saidclamping strip having a terminal embracing'opening therein alinedwith the bifurcation, and yieldable 'means unitary-withthe clamping; strip for holding said clamping strip engage-- ment with one face of the-first namedstrip and; including portions embodying resilient sections and limbportions engaging the opposite face of said first namedstrip; I

2. Aconnecter of the class described including a body strip having .a bifurcation at: one ;end

thereof and a slot extending inwardly-from said: bifurcation and having formedportions at the inner endlof said bifurcation, a yieldable clamping strip on one face of said body strip, me'ans connecting one end of said clamping. strip, to said; body strip, said clampingstrip having an open-' ing therein alined with the formed portionsof said bifurcation, clampingv sections extending from the edges of said clamping strip in alinement with the opening therein, said clamping strips: being rolled to provide rounded portionsl'and cluding tail portions extending fromisaidjrounfds j ed portions over the other me" of saidbody. whereby said clamping sections yieldingly hold said clamping strip on said body strip, and a lip on said clamping strip projecting beyond the end of said body strip providing means adapted to be grasped to facilitate bending of said clamping strip from engagement with said body strip against the action of said clamping sections.

3. In a spark plug which has a terminal includinga-reduced portion and a collar arranged abovesaid reduced portion, the, combination of a connecter including a body strip having a bifurcation therein adapted to embrace the reduced portion of said terminal, a yieldable clampsaid body strip, said clamping strip having an opening therein adapted to embrace said collar, ,and yieldable means unitary with said clamping stripand including portions engaging said body strip and adapted to hold said clamping strip in engagement with said 'body'strip with the opening in said clamping strip embracing said collar on said terminal. 4-. In a spark plug which has a terminal including a reduced portion and a collar arranged abovesaid reduced portion, the combination of' a connecter including a body strip having a bifurcation therein adapted to embrace the reduced andyieldable means unitary with-said clamping strip and including limb portions extending about the edges ofsaidbody strip across theface thereof opposite the face on which said clamping strip is positioned, the'ends of said limb portions extending into the reduced portion of said terminalto retain said clamping strip in engagement with said body strip to holdsaid connecter in engagement with said terminal when said reduced' portion is embracedby. said bifurcation and said collaris embraced by saidopening.

5.- In a;spark plug which has a terminal including a reducedportion and a collar arranged abovesaid reduced portion, the combination of a connecter including a body strip having a bifurcation therein adapted to embrace the reduced portion of said terminal, a yieldable clamp: ing-strip, means" connecting corresponding ends of;said body strip, and said clamping strip whereby-said clamping stripflis retained in position onone face'of said body strip, said clamping strip having an opening therein adapted to embrace said collar, and clamping sections unitary with, said clamping strip and including limbportions extending across the other face of said body strip and into said reduced portion to urge said clamping strip toward said body strip with the opening therein embracingsaid collar to thereby retain said connecter on said terminal. 

